For those who do not collect currency, the note-position identifier is the little letter followed by a number that identifies where on the sheet the note was printed. On the $1 FRN, the note position identifier is on the left side of the front of the note under the “1” and next to the Federal Reserve branch number.

Change in the Note Position Identifier

On the new 50 note sheets, the note-position identifier will feature a code with both the letter and number the same size. The only way to determine whether the note was printed on a 32-unit sheet or a 50-unit sheet is by looking at the note-position identifier.

As part of this change, the BEP is also changing the position identifier code mechanism. On the 32 note sheets, the notes printed four-across and eight-down were divided into four eight-note blocks (or quadrants). Each block was given a number in columns where the top-left quadrant was #1, the bottom left was #2, top-right was #3, and bottom-right was #4. Within the quadrants, the note positions were lettered A-D in the first column and E-H in the second column. If you found a note with the note-position code of H3, the note would have been printed in the fourth row and fourth column of the sheet.

The new 50 note sheets simplifies the note-position numbering by assigning a letter to each of the 10 rows (A-J) and a number to each of the five columns. On this sheet, H3 would now be located on the eighth row and third column.

Position Identification layout of 32-note sheet

A1

E1

A3

E3

B1

F1

B3

F3

C1

G1

C3

G3

D1

H1

D3

H3

A2

E2

A4

E4

B2

F2

B4

F4

C2

G2

C4

G4

D2

H2

D4

H4

Position Identification layout of 50-note sheet

A1

A2

A3

A4

A5

B1

B2

B3

B4

B5

C1

C2

C3

C4

C5

D1

D2

D3

D4

D5

E1

E2

E3

E4

E5

F1

F2

F3

F4

F5

G1

G2

G3

G4

G5

H1

H2

H3

H4

H5

I1

I2

I3

I4

I5

J1

J2

J3

J4

J5

BEP has begun to deliver the new notes to the Federal Reserve currency distribution operations in all 12 Federal Reserve district branches. These new notes will enter circulation as per the policies of each branch. BEP has not said whether they will sell the 50-note sheets as part of their uncut currency products.

The $1 FRN is the first note to be printed on 50-note sheets. Over time, the BEP will transition the printing of other notes to 50-note sheets with the only design change being the subtle change in the note-position identifier.
As part of this change, the Federal Reserve created a video explaining the changes. You can watch the video here: